Elliðaárdalur

The valley of Elliðaárdalur is one of the nicest outdoor areas for Reykjavík residents since it offers a whole range of outdoor activity options. There are pathways and tracks for walkers and cyclists and educational information boards about the geology and vegetation of the valley.

The City of Reykjavík acquired the Elliðaár river in 1906 to harness hydroelectric power, since the Ellidaár valley is the cradle of utility activities in the city. Potable water was first drawn from the river in 1909, the electric power station was commissioned in 1921 and since the 1970s, the hot water utility has extracted water from boreholes in the valley.

Since the outset, the activities of Reykjavík Energy have taken into account the ecosystem in the river since it is quite unique to have a salmon fishing river flow through the capital. The City of Reykjavik entrusted Reykjavik Energy’s predecessor, the Reykjavík Electricity Utility, with the supervision of the river from 1925, when fish farming began in the river and a hatchery was operated for decades. Reykjavík Energy then took over these duties when the company was created in 1999. The Reykjavík Angling Association was founded in 1939 and has been renting the river ever since.

Employees of the electric utility started growing trees in Elliðaárdalur around 1951 and continued this work for decades. The Reykjavík Forestry Association later took over planting in the valley in 1976 and assumed the supervision of tree cultivation in the valley. Since 1996 the supervision of vegetation in the valley has been managed by the City of Reykjavík.

In 2019, Reykjavík Energy, in collaboration with the Iceland Design Centre, launched an idea competition for a history and technology exhibition in the Ellidaár Power Station and its immediate surroundings. Reykjavík Energy’s objective with this history and technology exhibition is to give people easy access to this unique area of the city and increase the access of families and all residents to this public domain.